From kevyn@KSUVM.KSU.EDUFri Aug 4 06:44:39 1995
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 1995 19:34:14 -0500 (CDT)
From: Kevyn Jacobs
To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]"
Cc: GLB-NEWS
Subject: (USA, KANSAS, WICHITA, DOLE) Wichita Activists at Sen.Dole's Office
FROM THE LIBERTY PRESS
OFFICIAL LES/BI/GAY NEWSMAGAZINE OF KANSAS
AUGUST 1995
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COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPEAK AT SEN. BOB DOLE'S OFFICE
BY Tracey Hughes
WICHITA - Members of Wichita's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
community took part in an educational forum at Senator Dole's downtown
office on July 6, 1995. The meeting was organized by Todd Brown, who is
involved with the Human Rights Campaign Fund (a political action group in
Washington D.C.). Members of the forum also included Victor Wells*, Denise
Hemmingway, Ted Sweet, and Tracey Hughes. During the meeting, the
participants shared person al experiences about issues in the workplace
related to their sexual orientation. (* Due to concerns about job safety,
the name of this participant has been changed.)
Experiences and feelings that were shared during the meeting included the
following: being singled out for extra assignments; receiving conflicting
instructions on how tasks were to be performed; direct anti-gay comments
from management when other employe es weren't around; being accused of
"inappropriate behavior;" feeling responsible for "damage control" due to
rumors by co workers; fear of being fired purely for being gay; fear of
losing benefits by leaving a job voluntarily; encouraging diversity/
sensitivity training; concerns about "guilt by association;" and losing a
base of support when other gay coworkers leave a job. The group also
expressed that lesbian,gay, bisexual, and transgendered people are not
seeking "quota" or "preferred" status in employment; instead, the goal is
for equality in the workplace through education and changing negative
attitudes.
David Spears, the State Director for Senator Dole's office, was present at
the forum. Mr. Spears felt that it was helpful to have the meeting and
hear personal stories directly from people who were affected by this form
of discrimination. Mr. Spears noted
that he would be passing on the information from the meeting to Senator
Dole's Washington, D.C. office.
To express concerns or suggestions regarding job discrimination to Senator
Dole's office, please call (316) 263-4956 (Wichita) or (202) 224-6521
(Washington D.C.).
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Reprinted with permission of the Liberty Press.
Kansas submissions gladly accepted. Subscriptions
are $18.00 per year. The Liberty Press, P.O. Box
16315, Wichita KS, 67216-0315. Phone 316.262.8289.
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